Jonathan advises youths on tolerance

President Goodluck Jonathan has advised Nigerian youths to use religion to foster peace and unity in the country, even as religious youth leaders blamed the spate of societal decadence, especially violence, on the failure of religious leaders to impact teachings geared towards tolerance, peace and national unity in their followers.

Speaking in Abuja at the first Nigerian Inter-religious Youth Summit, President Jonathan, who noted that the summit could not have come at a better time than now, said religion should be more than going to churches or mosques every day.

Jonathan, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Student Affairs, Jude Imagwe said: “We have to be tolerant of others if we must move our society forward. When went wrong? There was a time in this country when we used to wait eagerly for exchange of gifts from our neighbours, Muslims and Christians during Sallah and Christmas. We have to start preaching peace, but to achieve peace, we must work for peace.”

The convener of the summit, Timothy Ademola said the blame of the present rot should be directed at religious leaders, saying: “It has been argued that if religious teachers and scholars can come up with sacred identity constructs that outline more peaceful world views, the world will, to a large extent, be made much better.

“Given the fact that youths constitute the most active segment of any religion when it comes to the implementation of its sacred identity constructs, it goes without saying that such constructs become more socially-accommodating and productive.

“The youth that adopt the will become more socially accommodating and productive. At this level, religion actively becomes an instrument for youth empowerment and constructive change.”

The President of Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Simon Dolly urged understanding between religious faiths.

He said: “We need to understand each other, work together and build bridges. We should build on our strength rather than look at our weaknesses.”

In his presentation, the National President of National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation (MACOMYO), Kamaldeen Akintunde regretted that hypocrisy on the part of religious leaders has contributed, in no small measures, to the spate of violence in the country.

“Since religion, as a concept, means different things to different people, we should then strive to make it an agent of stability. This is more so because religious intolerance has cost the country so much in our socio-political and economic development.

While he canvassed for constitutional regulation of religious activities, the youth leader urged political, religious and community leaders to be cautious when making comments on religious issues.

The representative of Eckankar said the solution to violence in the country is peace.